Sacrifice to Technology

Watching an old movie on TV. "The Right Stuff". I know they are just fictionalized accounts, but watching movies like this really brings home how much sacrifice went into the development of things we often take for granted these days. I wonder now if such sacrifices still continue. Certainly, at least on a personal giving of time and energy, but what about life sacrifices? Are they necessary anymore? Or was that something that only happened when technology was so new?